Pile regulator



Feb. 20; 1951 J. D. MINER, JR., ET AL FILE REGULATOR Filed Aug. 17, 1948INVENTORS John D. Miner,Jr. 8

Harry D. Else WITNESSES: ww

As illustrated, the stack I2 is disposed within a tubular housing member60 formed of steel, Invar, brass or any other suitable metal, the outersurface of which is roughened as by knurling or otherwise. In apreferred embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. l, the outer surface of thetubular housing 60 is provided with longitudinal flutes 62 which extendlengthwise of the housing 60 in spaced relation about the housing. Inanother embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the outer surface of thehousing 60 may be provided with circumferential ribs 64 disposed inspaced relation lengthwise of the-housing, or as illustrated in Fig. 5,the outer surface may be provided with circumferential grooves 66disposed in spaced relation lengthwise of the housing. The housing 60may be of any suitable metal, although it is preferred to utilize ametal having a coefficient of linear expansion over the operating rangeof the regulator comparable to the coefiicient of expansion of theresistance material forming the stack 12. However, excellent resultshave been accomplished by employing steel or Invar, a 36% nickel-ironalloy which has a substantially zero coefiicient of thermal expansion asthe composition of the tubular housing 60.

In order to provide for dissipating heat generated in the stack I2during the operation of the regulator, cooling fins 68 of aluminum orthe like are disposed in spaced relation one from the other lengthwiseof the housing 60, the cooling fins 68 being substantially independentone from the other. As illustrated, the cooling fins 68 are relativelythin and have very thin base portions adjacent the housing 60 so thateven though the cooling fins 88 have a different coefficient ofexpansion from that of the housing 60, very little stress is encounteredat the junction between the cooling fins and the housing at the narrowportion of the cooling fin 68, and the bond there'between is maintainedunder operating conditions. Preferably, the fins 68 are cast in positionwith respect to the housing 6B, it being found that the roughenedsurface of the housing 60 interlocks with the bases of the cast coolingfins 68 to provide strong joints therebetween whereby the cooling fins68 are maintained in the spaced relation on the housing 50.

In order to provide for a simplified assembly of the electromagnet andto provide a suitable housing for the armature assembly 36, the section10 of the sectionalized housing for the electromagnet 20 is preferablyformed of the same metal as that of the cooling fins 68, being formed asa unitary structure with the terminal fin 68 at the one end of the stack[2 adjacent the movable pressure plate l8. Thus, the section H1 isformed of aluminum, bein of a cup shape for encompassing the armatureassembly 36 and is formed simultaneously with the terminal fin 68', acommon hub 12 being formed integrally therewith. The hub 12 may be'quitethin but is securely interlocked with the roughened surface of thehousing 60 whereby the unitary structure comprising the section 10 ofthe sectionalized housing is securely mounted on the end of the housing60 and the joint or supporting surface thus formed has sufficientstrength to carry the weight of the electromagnet assembly 20.

In order to secure the sections 22 and Ill of the sectionalized housingfor maintaining the electromagnet assembly 20 in operation position withthe armature assembly 36 disposed to control the pressure applied to thestack l2, a plurality of bolts 14 are disposed to connect the lugs 32 ofthe base plate 24 to the side wall members of the section 10 0f thehousing whereby the electromagnet assembly 23 is maintained in operativeposition independently of the cooling fin structure, bein entirelysupported at one end only of the housing 60.

At the opposite end of the housing 60, that is adjacent the fixedpressure plate It, a plate 16 is secured to the terminal fin 63" bymeans of spaced screws 78, as better illustrated in Fig. 3, a sheet ofinsulating material 88 such as mica being disposed between the plate '55and the end of the housing 60 and the fin 68". As illustrated in Figs. 1and 3, a plug 82 is disposed in threaded engagement with the plate 76for receiving the end of the pressure plate E6, the plug 82 beingadjustable for initial adjustment of pressure on the stack 12. In orderto maintain the plug 82 in a fixed position once the initial adjustmenthas been made, the plate 18 is provided with a split ring assembly 84which is disposed to be tightened about the plug 82 by means of thescrew 86. A terminal 88 is carried by the plate 16 for making theelectrical connections thereto.

In order to provide adequate support for the end plate 16 and plu 82carried thereby, the terminal fin 68" adjacent that end of the stack ispreferably cast as an integral unit with the adjacent cooling fin 68with a common hub 90 therebetween. The hub 88 is interlocked with theroughened surface of the housing 60 and functions in the same manner asthe hub 12 referred to hereinbefore for providing adequate support forthe assembly attached thereto.

In order to provide for supporting the assembled electromagnet on a basemember 92, three of the fins 68 disposed intermediate of the finstructure are formed with common hubs 94 therebetween. The central fin68", thus formed can be attached to a flange 9| of the base member 82 asby means of the screw 98, as illustrated, the fin being provided withadequate strength by reason of the interlocking support of the hubmembers 54 with the housing 60. Another flange 93 of the base member 92is also secured to the end of section ID of the sectionalized housing bymeans of screws 98, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby the pile regulatoris assembled on the base member with the electromagnet 2i! and the stackIt assembled in operative relation therein, the entire assembledstructure being lightweight and compact. As in usual practice, the basemember 92 is illustrated as also carrying a variable resistor lIJil anda fixed resistor I02 and other connections not shown, terminal plugs I04being carried on one side of the base member 92 for facilitating plug-inmounting of the regulating assembly.

In operation, the regulator of this invention functions in the normalmanner, in that the spring 42 tends to compress the stack l2 of discsl4, whereas the armature member 44 under the influence of theelectromagnet 20 works against the bias of the spring 42 to relieve thepressure on the stack I2. In practice, as the stack [2 becomes heatedand tends to expand, it is found that any accompanying expansion of thetubular housing member 66 will not interfere with the functioning of thecooling fins 68 for the bond between the cooling fins and the roughenedsurface of the housing 60 is over such a narrow area that the bond willnot be ruptured. This is also true of the hub sections 12, 90 and 94illustrated, it being found that the interlocking support bee t isurface isals of such asm'all portion of the an structure of thehousifig60 that the bond tween is unafiected by airy difference between theexpansion cha -mars es 6f the w e fin me me were enti ia sii'ig. lengthof the hubs 12",: 9 andgf; however is sufficient to prevent working ofthe jqrit mg and the hub structures as countered inpperation; I I sincethe sectionalized housing for r gnet assembly is supported at e end onlyof the tubular musing mafia ee sections of the sectionalized housing'for the etregne netare maintained in assembledre is; on by meansassociated only with the sections (it the housing independent; of thecooling are, it is found that" the support of the electromagnet housingis free of any difiiculties caused by a difference of expansion of thecomponents of the housing for the stack and the fins. The regulator isvery efficient in operation and can be readily reproduced by anyoneskilled in the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A pile resistor comprising in combination, a stack of discs ofresistance material, relatively fixed pressure plate at one end of thestack, a movable pressure plate at the other end of the stack; anelectromagnet comprising an energizlng winding and an armature assemblydisposed to be operated to actuate the movable pressure plate tocontrolthe pressure applied to the stack, a sectionalized housing forthe electromagnet; a tubular housing member for the stack, the tubularhousing member being of metal having a predetermined coefiicient ofexpansion, a plurality of cooling fins of metal disposed about thetubular housing member in spaced relation lengthwise thereof, thecooling fiiis having a eoefficient er expansion different from that ofthe tubular housing member, one section of the electromagnet housingbeing disposed to encompass the armature assembly, said one sectionbeing of thesame metal as the cooling fins and being unitary with theterminal fln adjacent one end of the tubular housing member, said onesection and the terminal fin having a common hub formed integrallytherewith in contact engagement with the tubular housing member toprovide a strong support for the sectionalized housing whereby theassembled sectionalized housing is maintained in assembled relation withrespect to the tubular housing member with the electromagnet Li li stackassembled therein.

2. In a pile regulator having a stack of discs of resistance materialassembled in a tubular metallie member and having an electromagnetassembly for controlling the pressure applied to the stack, thecombination comprising, a plurality of metallic cooling fins disposedabout and in direct contact with the tubular member independently of oneanother and in spaced relation lengthwise thereof, the tubular memberhaving an irregular outer surface for cooperating with the fins tomaintain them in their spaced assembled relation thereon, asectionalized housing for the electromagnet assembly, securing meansdisposed in cooperation only with the sections of the sectionalizedhousing for securing and holding the sections of the housing assembledwith the electromagnet assembly therein, one section of the housingbeing of the same metal as the cooling fins and being unitary with theterminal fin adjacent one end of the tubular member, said section of thehousing and terminal fin having a doiiiiii'oii s frnied ntegranyherewith in ageeiefit Withthe tubulaf member-to pr i-de sole support to!the housing whereby the assembled sectionalized ousing is maintainedassembled relation with respect to the tubular member.- H

31' a pile regulator having a stackof discs or filter 1 assembled in atubi-ilai metallie member endearing as electromagnet ass-e my rer'eentiening me pressure applied to the stee th' co'inbi r'iatidncomprising, a mommy or are a1 01 g fins disposedabout the tubular teem 1independently or one anothfand in sir ed relation lengthwise thereof, aplurality or rib disposed in s aced relation en the outer sur- 6 thetubular nieihber for cooperating with tljie finsto maintain themin theirspaced assembled relation thereon, a sectionalized housing for treni''het assembly, securing means disc eraticsn only with the sections orthe s fitidiiai d I'iOlis'i-iig' I61 securing and hld the sect-ions erthe housing assembled with the electromagnet assembly therein,one-section 6f the ho sing being of the same metal as the ddiling andbeing unitary with the terminal hire-adjacent one end or the tubularmember, said ion er the housing and terminal fin having a on hiib formedintegrally therewith in contact engagement with the tubular member toprovide the sole support for the housing whereby the assembledsectionalized housing is maintame-e in a enabled relation with respectto the tribune mb'r, i v

4. A the resistor comprisin n combination, a stack or discs orresistance material relatively 'fik cipressure plate at oneen'd ef thestack, a moi/able pressure plate at the other end or the steer, aelectromagnet comprising an energizing winding and an armature assemblydisposed to be operated to actuate the movable pressure plate to controlthe pressure applied to the stack, a sectionalized housing for theelectromagnet, a tubular housing member for the stack, the tubularhousing member being of metal having a predetermined coefiicient ofexpansion, a plurality of cooling fins of metal disposed about thetubular housing member independently of one another and in spacedrelation lengthwise thereof, the cooling fins having a coefficient ofexpansion different from that of the tubular housing member, one sectionof the electromagnet housing being disposed to encompass the armatureassembly, said one section being of the same metal as the cooling finsand being unitary with the terminal fin adjacent one end of the tubularhousing member, said one section and the terminal fin having a commonhub formed integrally therewith in contact engagement with the tubularhousing member to provide a strong support for the sectionalized housingwhereby the assembled sectionalized housing is maintained in assembledrelation with respect to the tubular housing member with theelectromagnet and stack assembled therein.

5. A pile resistor comprising, in combination, a stack of discs ofresistance material, a relatively fixed pressure plate at one end of thestack, a movable pressure plate at the other end of the stack, anelectromagnet comprising an energizing winding and an armature assemblydisposed to be operated to actuate the movable pressure plate to controlthe pressure applied to the stack, a sectionalized housing for theelectromagnetmne section of the electromagnet housing being disposed toencompass the armature assembly and 7 the movable pressure plate, meansassociated only with the sectionalized housing for holding the sectionsassembled with the electromagnet therein, a tubular housing member forthe stack, the tubular housing member being of metal having apredetermined coefficient of expansion, a plurality of cooling fins ofmetal disposed about the tubular housing member in spaced relationlengthwise thereof, the cooling fins having a coefficient of expansiondifferent from that of the tubular housing member, said one section ofthe electromagnet housing being of the same metal as the coolin fins andbeing unitary with the terminal fin adjacent one end of the tubularhousing member, said one section and the terminal fin having a commonhub formed integrally therewith in contact engagement with the tubularhousing member to provide a strong support for the electromagnet housingwhereby the assembled sectionalized housing is maintained in assembledrelation with respect to the tubular housing member with theelectromagnet and stack assembled in operative relation therein.

6. A pile resistor comprising, in combination,

a stack of discs of resistance material, a relatively fixed pressureplate at one end of the stack,

a movable pressure plate at the other end of the stack, an electromagnetcomprising an energizing winding and an armature assembly disposed to beoperated to actuate the movable pressure plate to control the pressureapplied to the stack, a sectionalized housing for the electromagnet, onesection of the electromagnet housing being disposed to encompass thearmature assembly and the movable pressure plate, means associated onlywith the sectionalized housing for holding the sections assembled withthe electromagnet therein, a tubular housing member of steel for thestack, the tubular housing member having a roughtened outer surface, aplurality of cooling fins of cast aluminum disposed about the tubularhousing member independently of one another and in spaced relationlengthwise thereof, the aluminum fins being interlocked with theroughened surface of the tubular housing member to retain them inposition thereon, said one section of the electromagnet housing alsobeing of aluminum and being formed as an integral unitary part with aterminal fin adjacent one end of the tubular housing member, saidonesection and the terminal fin having a common hub formed integrallytherewith in interlocking engagement with the roughened surface of thetubular housing member to provide a strong support for the electromagnethousing whereby the assembled sectionalized housing is maintained inassembled relation with respect to the tubular housing member with theelectromagnet and stack assembled in operative relation therein.

JOHN D. MINER, JR. HARRY D. ELSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,154,448 Hoffer Apr. 18, 19392,201,024 Brown Mar. 14, 1940 2,327,259 Gay Aug. 17, 1943 2,336,523Allen Dec. 14, 1943 2,354,542 Rad July 25, 1944 2,384,786 Austin Sept.18, 1945 2,396,593 Moore Mar. 12, 1946 2,453,065 Creveling Nov. 2, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 244,657 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1925510,221 Great Britain July 28, 1939

